Use of point-of-care ultrasound during cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit: A cross-sectional survey

Background

There is growing interest in the use of point-of-care ultrasound during cardiac arrest, but few studies document its use in the intensive care unit.

Objective

We hypothesised this may reflect a low prevalence of use of point-of-care ultrasound during cardiac arrest or negative attitudes towards its use. We aimed to determine the self-reported prevalence, attitudes towards, and barriers to use of point-of-care ultrasound during cardiac arrest in the intensive care unit.

Methods

We conducted a web-based survey over 3 months (08/08/2022–06/11/2022), of intensive care unit consultants and registrars in Victoria, Australia. Descriptive and mixed-methods analyses of Likert-type and free-text answers were performed.

Results

The response rate was 91/398 (22.8%), split evenly between consultants and registrars. There was a broad range of clinical and ultrasound experience. Only 22.4% (22/91) of respondents reported using point-of-care ultrasound 75–100% of the time during their management of cardiac arrest. Respondents rated the value they place in point-of-care ultrasound during cardiac arrest 3 (interquartile range: 3–4) and that of a “skilled operator” 4 ((interquartile range; 4–5) on a 5-point scale. Free-text analysis suggested exclusion of “tamponade” (40/80 [50%] comments) as the most valuable use-case and “skill” as a personal barrier (20/73 [27.4%] comments). Personal and departmental barriers were not rated highly, although registrars perceived “lack of a structured training program” as a barrier. Respondents were equivocal in the value they gave point-of-care ultrasound during cardiac arrest but saw greater value when conducted by a skilled operator.

Conclusions

Point-of-care ultrasound was reported to be infrequently used in cardiac arrest, mostly due to self-perceived skill and lack of a structured training program.